What if Michael Jordan Was a Devout Catholic?

Here's a morsel for thought. How would the world be different if Michael Jordan (or Tiger Woods or any sports mega-star) was a devout Catholic? It is impossible to say with any precision, but I am willing to go as far as suggesting it would not be worse off.

Like it or not, in our entertainment and media driven culture, sports stars command the attention of an adoring public. They have a platform. People, particularly kids, want to be like them, "to be like Mike" as the jingle goes. It would be a grand sight indeed to find young people filling up the pews during Eucharistic Adoration to be like Mike.

Which reminds me, don't forget to check out CatholicAthletesforChrist.com . There you will find some athletes who are offering themselves and their celebrity to Jesus to use as He wishes. Which, of course, is a very good thing.

Jesus Was a College Basketball Player

Of course our Lord Jesus Christ didn't play college basketball, but the actor who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ certainly did. Long before he became an actor, Jim Caviezel's first passion was basketball and he even played a couple of seasons for Bellevue Community College.

"I didn't want to be an actor. I wanted to be a basketball player. God gives you a talent and you have to follow through on it."

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), a foot injury cut Jim's basketball career short and he focused on acting.

For the record, should this blog post ever make it's way to Mr. Caviezel, there is a standing invitation from JP Catholic University for him to come shoot some hoops whenever he is in San Diego.

Well Said Coach Dungy

Indianapolis Coach Tony Dungy after the Colts Super Bowl win yesterday:

"The Lord doesn't always take you in a straight line," Dungy said. "He doesn't always take a direct path. I think he tests you sometimes to see if you're going to keep the faith and hang in there and I think we did. We did as an organization and it's just such a great feeling to get, to win this game.

"It's not the biggest thing in the world, but … it feels great."

I'm still looking for the exact quote but he also said something to the effect that while it is nice to be the first black coach to win the Super Bowl, the best part of he and Bear's Coach Lovie Smith's (who is also black) participation was that it showed that two Christian guys who do things the right way can be successful.

Way to go Coach!

Catholics in Pro Football

For Catholic pro-football players, faith more than a pre-game prayer
By Gina Mazza Hillier, Michael C. Gabriele and Dave Hrbacek
9/15/2006

Catholic News Service
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (CNS) – Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu is not an NFL superstar who happens to be a man of faith. Rather, in his heart, he is simply "a Christian with a passion for Jesus."

Football, Polamalu said, "gives me confirmation of how I can carry out my faith. It's my way to glorify God."

I always find it uplifting to read about how others live their faith. Even in a 'violent' sport like football it is possible to be propelled by one's love for Jesus rather than a desire to hurt your opponents.

"Football, in general, has it backwards," he [Polamalu] said. "They think this inner anger, this hatred, is what drives football and becomes the physical aspect of the game. But love overcomes all things. My love to glorify God through my playing will far outweigh anybody's hate for me."